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Department for International Development

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2019-03-19

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Sudan faces a number of economic challenges. While US economic sanctions were lifted
in late 2017, Sudan remains a challenging place to do business. The economic situation
has been exacerbated by a shortage of foreign exchange which has resulted in fuel
shortages. Sudan is still unable to access international financial assistance, in
part due to its arrears to the International Monetary Fund and others and the failure
to service its debt. Politically, the UK continues to work with the Government of
Sudan to ensure that constitutional and political rights are respected. Sudan remains
a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office. The UK
continues to encourage Sudan to undertake macroeconomic and political reforms, including
through the six-monthly Strategic Dialogue with the Government of Sudan.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their most recent assessment of (1) the living
and health conditions of the 800,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, especially children;
(2) the level of international cooperation in efforts to assist those refugees; and
(3) the preparations to mitigate the impact on those refugees of the approaching monsoon.

Living conditions remain challenging due to overcrowding in camps, but my department
is working to improve them. We are ensuring better healthcare for refugees - particularly
for vulnerable groups including children. The UK has worked with the international
community on the humanitarian response plan (HRP) agreed with the international community
in September 2017. My department has been working on preparedness measures for the
monsoon and cyclone season in Bangladesh since December, working with several other
agencies. UK aid has ensured existing shelters of around 158,000 people in camps and
host communities most at risk will be upgraded to better withstand severe weather<p>
</p>

I am very clear that every pound of UK aid should go on saving and improving the lives
of the poorest people in the world. All DFID projects are measured against a robust
monitoring framework to ensure they remain cost effective. DFID also supports other
aid spending departments, who are responsible for ensuring value for money and effective
monitoring of their own aid spend.

Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure their emergency funding for displaced
people from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains reaches displaced minorities such as the
Yazidis and Christians; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which their
policy of neutrality and impartiality will lead to the inclusion or exclusion of those
who have been subject to genocide.

<ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities
in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands
of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps
may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners
involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including
UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks
in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners.
DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously,
and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility
of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of
Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials
stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against
religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned
about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening
of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies
have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report
abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected
extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards
those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such
as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response
Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments
carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality
and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on
the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities
are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult
environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging
especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent
humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they
are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those
from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold
them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings
in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but
DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities.
DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID
has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting
is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul>

Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from Dr Russell Blacker
and representatives of charities and relief organisations involved with northern Iraq,
along with Members of both Houses, for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State
for International Development, to discuss support for minority communities subjected
to genocide in northern Iraq; and, if so, how they intend to respond.

<ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities
in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands
of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps
may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners
involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including
UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks
in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners.
DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously,
and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility
of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of
Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials
stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against
religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned
about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening
of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies
have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report
abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected
extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards
those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such
as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response
Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments
carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality
and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on
the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities
are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult
environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging
especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent
humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they
are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those
from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold
them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings
in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but
DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities.
DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID
has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting
is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul>

Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians
and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps
because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and
(2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such
camps.

<ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities
in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands
of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps
may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners
involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including
UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks
in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners.
DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously,
and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility
of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of
Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials
stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against
religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned
about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening
of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies
have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report
abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected
extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards
those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such
as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response
Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments
carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality
and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on
the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities
are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult
environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging
especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent
humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they
are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those
from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold
them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings
in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but
DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities.
DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID
has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting
is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul>

Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development assessors
arranged to meet (1) twice with Christians in the Kurdish–Northern Iraq regions, and
(2) with those who have given evidence to DfID about the failure to provide support
to victims of genocide in northern Iraq and Syria; and if so, whether those assessors
failed to attend those meetings in 2015 and subsequently.

<ul><li>The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities
in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands
of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps
may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners
involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including
UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks
in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners.
DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously,
and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility
of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of
Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials
stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against
religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned
about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening
of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies
have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report
abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected
extremist activity.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards
those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such
as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response
Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments
carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality
and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on
the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities
are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult
environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging
especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent
humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they
are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those
from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold
them to account.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings
in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but
DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities.
DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>DFID
has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting
is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.</li></ul>

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many officials in
her Department who received the (a) exceeded, (b) met and (c) must improve performance
mark under the Civil Service Employment Policy Performance Management System (i) had
a disability, (ii) worked full-time and (iii) worked part-time in 2013-14.

<table><tbody><tr><td><p>Performance Rating</p></td><td><p>Number of employees who
have declared a disability</p></td><td><p>Number of employees who work full time</p></td><td><p>Number
of employees who works part-time/reduced hours</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Exceeded</p></td><td><p>13</p></td><td><p>448</p></td><td><p>38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Met</p></td><td><p>49</p></td><td><p>1080</p></td><td><p>113</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Must
improve</p></td><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>132</p></td><td><p>11</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>Data provided on disability is based on those employees who have chosen to
make a declaration of their diversity information on DFID’s HR system.</p><p> </p>

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her
Department has allocated to Uganda in each of the last three years; what projects
that funding supports; and whether her Department has experienced issues with corruption
in Uganda over that period.

<table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>DFID Funding to Uganda (£)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016
– 2017</p></td><td><p><strong>110,056,327</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017 –
2018</p></td><td><p><strong>124,803,146</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018 - 2019</p></td><td><p><strong>*102,100,000</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p><strong>*336,959,474</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>Figure
1:</strong> table providing details of DFID’s funding in Uganda in each of the last
3 financial years <br> *Indicative figures as 18/19 financial year has not concluded.</p><p>
</p><p>A list of the programmes the Department for International Development (DFID)
has supported over the last three years is published on <a href="https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/.%0d"
target="_blank">https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/.</a></p><p> </p><p>DFID has a zero-tolerance
approach to fraud and corruption of any kind. Where taxpayers’ money is misused, we
expect our partners to take firm and immediate action and that partners with which
we work protect the UK aid funds for which they are responsible, whilst acting with
honesty and with integrity at all times. Any allegations of fraud and or corruption
are subject to robust investigation.</p><p> </p><p>In January 2018, allegations of
fraud and corruption arose in the Uganda Refugee Operation. The Government of Uganda,
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, World Food Programme and Development Partners (represented
by the UK, EU and US) agreed on the Joint Plan of Action, which resulted in systems
improvements.</p>